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Thursday, December 24, 2009

This blogger wishes everyone a happy Christmas. May the mad rush to this day - dawn masses, traffic jams, endless parties, shopping sprees, wrapping marathons, and office deadlines - make way to a more meaningful season, characterized by a quiet hope and centering on Jesus, spent with lovedones, and savored in prayer. I know of nothing more beautiful than love shared between God and His people, and among brothers and sisters. The best gift we have received and will ever receive is Jesus. The wait is over.

Sunday, December 06, 2009

Yesterday I watched a play, I AM NINOY. It is about the lives of two of our modern-day heroes, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. and Corazon Aquino. I was moved to tears on several scenes.

I cried when a father had to leave his wife and child just to earn a living abroad.

I cried when somebody died and they played the last notes of our national anthem.

I cried the longest when I saw Tita Cory's pictures flashed on screen.

The play encourages everyone to be a hero. It was done even before Tita Cory died, so it was not staged as part of Noynoy's presidential campaign, and, fittingly, it has won several awards. The performances were convincing and powerful. The message was timely and beautiful.

I found some parts to be dragging, however, as too much attention to details was given, but overall, I took away a feeling of nationalism and heroism. The Filipino in the writers could not help including all themes from drama to comedy in one play, true to the chop suey mentality of our culture.

When I think of the victims of natural and man-made disasters in the Philippines, I am moved to tears. But the Advent readings are filled with hope! I imagine we are the people being described here, and that God will restore and heal us, and will triumph over our enemies. I put my trust in God for the Filipino people. I will read this for mass today with so much hope.

December 6, 2009

Second Sunday of Advent Lectionary: 6

Reading 1Bar 5:1-9

Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery;put on the splendor of glory from God forever:wrapped in the cloak of justice from God,bear on your head the mitrethat displays the glory of the eternal name.For God will show all the earth your splendor:you will be named by God foreverthe peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship.

Up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heights;look to the east and see your childrengathered from the east and the westat the word of the Holy One,rejoicing that they are remembered by God.Led away on foot by their enemies they left you:but God will bring them back to youborne aloft in glory as on royal thrones.For God has commandedthat every lofty mountain be made low,and that the age-old depths and gorgesbe filled to level ground,that Israel may advance secure in the glory of God.The forests and every fragrant kind of treehave overshadowed Israel at God’s command;for God is leading Israel in joyby the light of his glory,with his mercy and justice for company.

Responsorial PsalmPs 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6

R. (3) The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,we were like men dreaming.Then our mouth was filled with laughter,and our tongue with rejoicing.R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”The LORD has done great things for us;we are glad indeed.R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.Restore our fortunes, O LORD,like the torrents in the southern desert.Those who sow in tearsshall reap rejoicing.R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.Although they go forth weeping,carrying the seed to be sown,They shall come back rejoicing,carrying their sheaves.R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

Reading IIPhil 1:4-6, 8-11

Brothers and sisters:I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you,because of your partnership for the gospelfrom the first day until now.I am confident of this,that the one who began a good work in youwill continue to complete ituntil the day of Christ Jesus.God is my witness,how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.And this is my prayer:that your love may increase ever more and morein knowledge and every kind of perception,to discern what is of value,so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,filled with the fruit of righteousnessthat comes through Jesus Christfor the glory and praise of God.

GospelLk 3:1-6

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea,and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee,and his brother Philip tetrarch of the regionof Ituraea and Trachonitis,and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan,proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:A voice of one crying out in the desert:“Prepare the way of the Lord,make straight his paths.Every valley shall be filledand every mountain and hill shall be made low.The winding roads shall be made straight,and the rough ways made smooth,and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”